Tui Na: Therapeutic & Clinical Applications

Although I began my journey into the therapeutic massage and bodywork profession in 2002, it was not until 2005 that I began working professionally with Tui Na and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Tui Na is one of the oldest forms of bodywork, with documented roots stretching back more than 3000 years. Written references to Chinese medical massage date as early as the Zhou dynasty (700-481 BCE)¹. It was just over 1000 years after that when medical study of massage spread to other countries, such as Japan, Korea, and countries on the silk trade route. Therefore, it seems the roots of Tui Na hold the origins of eastern based massage and bodywork, such as Shiatsu.

Century upon century of study and application, by Chinese medicine masters and practitioners, led to the development of several different "schools" or approaches to Tui Na application. Some of these schools focused on physically dynamic applications, while others focused on subtle energy applications. This explains the diverse conditions for which Tui Na proves a beneficial treatment. Today, Tui Na as taught to most western students covers applications from each of these schools providing us with the toolbox to address diverse clinical issues.

Tui Na is a modality that must not be underestimated for its clinically therapeutic benefits imparted to the recipient. As Sarah Pritchard, Tui Na practitioner and instructor, writes in her book Tui Na: A manual of Chinese massage therapy, Tui Na may be likened to a form of physical therapy that "excels at releasing the channel sinews (collectively the muscles, tendons and ligaments) and facilitating the movement of joints"². The channel sinews relate directly to the tendino-muscle channels (also referred to as Sinews Channels), which are comprised of functional groups of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that relate to the actions of particular joints and movement actions of the body. Pritchard goes on to explain that "by opening, releasing, and balancing the channel sinews, Tui Na" is useful for the treatment of muscular issues, as well as conditions that may have roots in emotional or postural imbalances³.

As a form of applied Qi Gong, Tui Na contains wisdom of energy work that is utilized to effectively address mental, emotional, and physical imbalances and ailments. Taken literally, Qi Gong means energy work. Students of Qi Gong utilize subtle and dynamic movement, breathing, and meditation exercises to direct and smooth the flow of energy throughout the system. This brings me back to the tendino-muscle channels, to which clinical aspects of Qi Gong and Tui Na are directly linked; the energy of these channels tends to stagnate around the joints that serve as gateways for the flow of qi throughout the body. This qi may be in the form of literal energy, blood, or fluid. When the gateways are functioning well, qi flows smoothly through and around the joints. However, if there is a part of the body that feels stuck, painful, stiff, full or depleted, then we work to move qi appropriately in that area. In so doing, we generate healing and overall wellness. A Tui Na practitioner works with her or his own energy and that of the recipient to bring the recipient back into a state of balance, encouraging the recipient's body to clear acute and chronic conditions.

So, what's in the Tui Na practitioner's toolbox, anyhow?

A wide variety of hand techniques, such as grasping (Na), pressing (An), rubbing (Mo), brushing or pushing (Tui), with which to warm and affect change in the soft tissue, organ meridians and tendino-muscle channels. The techniques effectively work to soothe the nervous system or stimulate circulation, settle the mind or move the lymphatic fluids as needed. As such, these techniques are helpful for everyday aches and pains, assisting in healthy immune system response to common cold, flu, and external pathogens, muscular injuries from exercise or repetitive stress, encouraging a healthy flow of digestion, as well as clarifying one's awareness of "physical and emotional boundaries."⁴

Simple and complex range of motion and stretching techniques address muscular, joint, and organ and channel imbalances. These techniques are beneficial for daily aches, pains, and stiffness related to overuse/underuse of muscles and joints, certain arthritic and pre-arthritic conditions (as it lubricates joints and relaxes muscles, tendons, and ligaments), overall digestive and immune health, and even vertebral deviations.

The holding and massaging of acupressure points and meridians to directly affect the flow of energy, blood, and fluid throughout the body. My training and practice is focused on the art of Jin Shin Acupressure, in which a series of points are held to benefit particular organs, meridians, or systems. To the client, this work often feels quite subtle, yet even the most physical of clients will comment on feeling energy moving in their body that they may not have noticed ever before!

Moxibustion, cupping, and guasha enhance the therapeutic effects of a Tui Na session. Moxibustion, the application of heat to acu-points as a stimulating therapy, will provide such benefits as promoting healthy immune responses to pathogens, alleviate stomach upset or diarrhea, and promote labor. Cupping, the application of suction to acu-points, is useful for dispersing stagnation and increasing circulation; cupping is beneficial for such conditions as chronic tension, tight muscles, headaches and bruises. Guasha, in which the practitioner deeply rubs, or scrapes, at soft tissue pathways, helps to disperse stagnation and increase circulation; guasha is beneficial for the alleviation of such conditions as pain, fever, and cough.

What does this mean for Inner Phoenix Somatics and you?

In my practice, I am both skilled and comfortable working with deep, dynamic techniques, subtle touch, and anything in-between. My foundational bodywork training and early years of hands-on application will continually be strengthened by continuing education, through which I seek to increase my understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment and application, as well as clinical applications of Tui Na bodywork for physical and emotional manifestations of trauma, injury and day-to-day stress.

Tui Na is an excellent modality to address everyday tension, aches and pains, chronic or acute conditions, as well as emotional and spiritual imbalances. As a recipient, you are sure to find relief, healing, and increased wellness through the integration of Tui Na to your overall healthcare practices!

May peace be upon you!

Notes

¹ Pritchard, Sarah. Tui Na: A manual of Chinese massage therapy. Churchhill Livingstone, Elsevier: Edinburgh. 2010, page 3.

² ibid. page 5.

³ ibid. pages 5 & 6.

⁴ Donak, Jim. "Sinews Channels (Tendino-Muscle Channels)" class notes. 2000. page 1

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